I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 91

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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<Chapter 91>

 

Casselik waited for about 4 hours in front of the Birdwell Mansion in the rain.

 

In that place where the rain poured down so hard that even his vision was blurred.

 

His wet black hair became even darker, and water droplets formed at the tips of the hair covering his forehead.

 

The uniform he wore was soaked through and clung to his skin, but all he could think about was worrying that the bouquet he had carefully bought might get ruined.

 

When Emilia finally allowed him to enter the manor, he felt for a moment as if he had gained the whole world.

 

‘I’ll talk with Duke Casselik for just 10 minutes. We’ll talk in the reception room, so just 10 minutes. Please give us some space.’

 

Even the sight of the woman, smaller than his shoulders, roughly grabbing his wrist and walking seemed beautiful to him.

 

But as soon as they entered the reception room, Emilia shook off his wrist.

 

What a shame.

 

Just as that thought crossed his mind.

 

“You suddenly barged into someone else’s meal and caused a scene, and you still have more ways to torment me?”

 

The cold question shattered his reverie.

 

Suddenly, he noticed that his black hair covering his forehead still had moisture in it because he hadn’t dried it properly.

 

At the belated realization that he might look messy, Casselik roughly pushed back his bangs with his hand.

 

But anyway, why was I waiting in front of this house?

 

Perhaps because of his fever, his thoughts weren’t working well.

 

No, there was no reason to begin with.

 

He had simply wanted to somehow catch Emilia and the child who had run out of the restaurant because they hated seeing him.

 

And to apologize…

 

‘Ah, an apology.’

 

Only then realizing why he had come here, Casselik fidgeted with the soaked bouquet.

 

“…I’m sorry. I should have asked them to wrap the bouquet properly. I didn’t know it would rain and just brought it like this.”

 

Emilia let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Don’t tell me you waited until this hour just to give me this?”

 

“No. No.”

 

Such a pathetic bouquet was too embarrassing to give.

 

He placed the completely soaked bouquet on the table and muttered.

 

“I was a fucking bastard.”

 

“…At least you know that?”

 

But his words weren’t finished.

 

“When you and Rie lived at the Duke’s Castle. I should have doubted the Head Maid’s words that you were doing well on your own. Every time I discovered servants looking down on you, I should have broken their necks or something to warn people.”

 

“…”

 

“That you and the child weren’t people who deserved such treatment.”

 

An awkward silence fell.

 

Since she hadn’t expected him to so openly recite his wrongdoings, the corners of Emilia’s mouth, which had been forming a sneer, dropped.

 

The man who had nakedly confessed his faults looked lonely and miserable, as if he were the only person left in the world.

 

“I fired the Head Maid and the butler.”

 

“What? Didn’t they both work for over 30 years? How could you dismiss such people all at once…”

 

“After working for over 30 years, they seemed to be mistaken about who the master was. They forgot their place and crossed the line, so I simply drove them out.”

 

At his firm answer, Emilia was at a loss for words.

 

Casselik was quite different from when they had last met.

 

Even then, it had felt like he was sincerely apologizing, but now, how should she put it.

 

The large man, much bigger than herself, looked precarious, as if he would burst into tears the moment she said anything.

 

Precarious.

 

It was a word that didn’t suit Casselik at all.

 

“…I’ll accept your apology. Thank you for speaking honestly.”

 

Casselik’s expression, which had looked anxious, brightened slightly.

 

However.

 

“If you’re done with what you wanted to say to me, please leave now.”

 

At the words that followed, his face contorted as if he had been struck by an arrow.

 

“Emilia. Just one more chance…”

 

“There’s no such thing.”

 

“Please. Please, Emilia…”

 

The low bass voice that sounded like it came from a cave gradually cracked.

 

Casselik, his fists clenched tight, lowered his head.

 

His voice, which had become as small as if his breath might die out, flowed out as a metallic sound.

 

“…At least get angry and tell me to kneel. No, I’ll kneel right now.”

 

“Casselik!”

 

Whether the startled Emilia screamed or not, he stood up from his seat and knelt down properly.

 

His calm expression showed not a hint of hesitation.

 

He was truly prepared to kneel if told to kneel, and to crawl if told to crawl on the floor.

 

The arrogant gaze that had looked down on Emilia just a few months ago was now desperately looking up at her.

 

Just like a criminal waiting for execution.

 

“Give me a chance to pay for my sins to you. You were the one who saved me when I was dying in the forest. I can’t live without you.”

 

But Emilia was suffering just as much.

 

“I couldn’t live without Rie either.”

 

“…What?”

 

At the sudden mention of the child’s name, Casselik, who had been raising his lowered head, flinched.

 

When he came to his senses and looked at her again, she had turned pale as if she could barely breathe.

 

“…Do you remember? After we divorced. I told you. I asked if I couldn’t live with the child, at least until Rie grew up a little. But do you remember what you said?”

 

She took a breath and continued.

 

“You said Serena would be coming, and that she wouldn’t be happy if your ex-wife was around.”

 

“Emilia, I was wrong. I was crazy then. No, I had lost my memory. But even unconsciously… I was trying to protect you and Rie…”

 

“Rather than turning back time, you should have talked to me! I wouldn’t have cared if you were a commoner who lost his memory, or even an illegitimate child…”

 

Finally, the emotions she had been suppressing burst out.

 

This was what Emilia had been thinking all along after reading Casselik’s notebook.

 

Even in this life without memories, she had felt her heart flutter for Casselik. That feeling had played a part in enduring his indifference and the mistreatment from the people at the Duke’s Castle.

 

Though her affection had completely disappeared when she saw how he treated Rie.

 

However, the Emilia of the past would have been completely loved by him, so she surely would have understood everything and embraced him with love.

 

Drop, drop. Her tears fell onto Casselik’s cheek as he raised his head seeking forgiveness.

 

Emilia was crying.

 

“…Emilia.”

 

He hurriedly tried to get up to comfort her, but Emilia pushed him away while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

“If you truly care about me, just leave.”

 

“But-”

 

“It’s too hard now.”

 

The request, like a death sentence, fell upon his heart.

 

He wanted to approach her as much as she had stepped back. However.

 

‘If I get any closer here…’

 

Emilia was crying.

 

Those fragile, small shoulders were shaking.

 

He couldn’t do anything for her. Because he was the one who had made her suffer.

 

In times like this, disappearing would be best for her.

 

“…I’m sorry. I’ll go back now.”

 

After covering his face with his large hands for a long time, he finally nodded.

 

Before opening the reception room door one last time.

 

“Take care of your health, Emilia.”

 

Casselik muttered toward the back of her figure, who had completely turned away from him, then left the manor.

 

* * *

 

After that day, Emilia thought to herself.

 

Finally, her connection with Casselik had come to an end.

 

Even if there were occasions when they had to meet, it would be related to Rie, and at most once or twice a year.

 

She decided to pretend that the day Casselik waited for her in the rain never happened.

 

At first, her family members had asked what conversation they had, but after reading her mood, they no longer mentioned Duke Casselik.

 

Occasionally, the embroidery shop owner or nobles she was friendly with would mention him.

 

‘We’re divorced. Aside from being connected through Rie, we’re strangers.’

 

Even she, who had always just smiled quietly, drew a firm line when it came to that.

 

After several weeks passed like this, Emilia was able to return to her daily routine.

 

Daily routine. Her damn daily routine.

 

“Your popularity seems to have died down lately, so would it be alright if I approached you a little? I run a restaurant cafe nearby… Ahhh!”

 

The man who had been grinning while resting his chin on the counter screamed.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. My eyesight has been poor lately, so I confused money with a needle.”

 

Emilia, who had held out a sharp needle instead of change, handed over real coins with an innocent expression as if it were a mistake.

 

She was in the middle of driving away another persistent fly today.

 

After Casselik left, meeting men in general had become difficult, so she had temporarily kept her distance from Philip as well.

 

Somehow finding out about this, the number of men courting her had increased.

 

But this particular fly was quite persistent.

 

“No, if your eyesight is so poor that you can’t distinguish between a needle and a coin, shouldn’t you quit working at the embroidery shop?”

 

“Yes. No.”

 

Emilia shut her mouth tight, having no intention of engaging with him.

 

Then, the man with a smirk at the corner of his mouth returned the change money he had received to her.

 

“Ah, are you in urgent need of money…? At least take this.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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